Freya

Brand: Deico Games

Pieces: 1000
Size:  68cm x 47cm

Product Code: 77448

Good morning all! 

I'm not sure if there's a story behind this illustrated design by Groos Zselyke, but the wintery scene above certainly seemed appropriate for the cold days we've been experiencing lately. 

I've had this puzzle in my collection since about 2021 and only recently got it out to complete it. I decided to go through some of the older puzzles I had, with the intention of doing them and getting them ready to sell at the upcoming Laverton Bowling Club puzzle sale. 

Although the image is beautiful, the pieces were quite a loose fit. I've only done a couple of puzzles from this brand, seeing as it's difficult to get in Australia (I had to import it from the UK), but the artwork was too pretty to pass up!

Have you ever imported a puzzle simply because it was unavailable in your country and you really loved the design?

Winter Walk

Brand: Bluebird

Pieces: 300
Size:  47.75cm x 34.29cm

Product Code: F-90803

Over the last few weeks we've definitely started to feel the winter chill approaching... and the sad thing is, it's still Autumn! (until tomorrow anyway haha) 

In recognition of the cooler months ahead, I have decided to put up this cute puzzle that I purchased from an online store overseas. I absolutely adored the image when I saw it (even though my husband insists that it's an AI-generated image). Honestly, I agree with him, but that still doesn't detract from the cuteness of the design. This puzzle was 300 pieces but when made up, was about the same size as a standard 500 piece puzzle. It was relatively quick to do and the quality was good.

I have done a few Bluebird puzzles in various count sizes, and have plenty more in my collection to do- they have never disappointed me to date. 

Are there any brands that you like the look of and are keen to try? 

Run Like A Girl

Brand: Educa

Pieces: 500
Size:  34cm x 48cm

Product Code: 19249

I'm not sure if you've ever experienced this... You see an image and for some reason just can't get it out of your head. It crops up now and again and, each time, your thoughts on the image are renewed and you once again want to get a hold of it. 

This was the case for the above illustrated puzzle by Esther Gili. 

I'm not sure what it was about the design that made me want to purchase it and complete it so much but every time I saw it, it would end up in my cart. One day, I just bit the bullet and decided to buy it.  

This image gives me such Stranger Things vibes - not a bad thing!

The above puzzle was a lot more challenging than expected, due to the watercolour illustration aspect of the design. Once I had completed the image of the girl, it took the process of elimination to work out most of the background and border. While the pieces were quite loose (you could not do that pick-up test with this puzzle, it would fall to pieces), they at least fit properly and so there were no false fits. It was an experience of trial and error to get the background done. But how stunning is it when it's finally finished?! 

Have you got a puzzle like this that keeps calling to you? Will you eventually cave and buy it? Or has it already happened and you've finally completed it?

Beauties Of Chinese 56 Ethnic Groups

Brand: Taiwang

Pieces: 1000
Size:  50cm x 75cm

Product Code: TW-1000-009

It's Lunar New Year, and since I don't have any puzzle images of snakes (of which this is the year), I have decided instead to put up a puzzle that I completed several years ago and which has been sitting in my puzzle photo vault for all that time! I won this puzzle through a Facebook competition back then, and it was such a beautiful image to complete. 

There are a couple of puzzles I have in my collection that would be perfect for this Lunar New Year and I hope to complete them soon so that I can show them to you. In the meantime, take a look at the one above!

I hadn't done this brand before and have never seen it available in Australian stores (or even online for that matter) but the design is beautiful and I remember the quality being exceptional. 

Have you got any puzzles in your collection where you've never tried the brand before but the image drew you in and you're raring to complete them?

The Bookshop Cafe

Brand: Reverie Puzzles

Pieces: 1000
Size: 50cm x 70cm

Product Code: -

Hi all, I'm not sure if I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was going to skip a week of posting. I had to travel interstate for work and was unable to put up any photos on this blog or on Instagram. But I have a couple of weeks free before my next interstate jaunt, so here we are. Today you get the honour of seeing this amazing puzzle from Reverie Puzzles, and who knows what next week will bring!

This puzzle was a pleasure to put together. The design (like all of the ones commissioned for this brand) is gorgeous- I love the illustrations! The colours in this design are vibrant, the pieces fit together snugly, and there's just general good vibes surrounding this puzzle (I don't know how else to explain it). I own most of the puzzles from this brand and look forward to having the chance to complete them all at some point. 

Is there one puzzle brand that you absolutely love and wish to own every design from?

Radiate Positivity

Brand: Hinkler

Pieces: 500
Size: 61cm x 45.7cm

Product Code: -

Must I really say more?

As soon as I saw this image (and the other 2 in the collection) I knew I had to do it. I love these modern illustrations (and the messages that they impart). Happily, the quality of the colours, as well as the piece fit, were really good. 

Don't you love cheaply priced puzzles that still deliver on quality and style?! 

Fierce Loyalty

Brand: Crown & Andrews Super 3D Prime 3D

Pieces: 500

Size: 61cm x 46cm
Product Code: -

I've decided to put up something a little bit different this time around- a lenticular '3D' puzzle! 

This is the first time I have ever completed one and it was quite an experience. It all depended on the way I looked at the pieces, or the way that the light reflected off them, which determined how quickly I was able to put it together. For a 500 piece puzzle, it took me quite a while! But the design was also quite dark which also made a difference. 

This design is from the Anne Stokes Collection, and has been adapted to this lenticular format. I thought it was pretty cool although it is much harder to take photos of puzzles in this style! 

There were only a few problems with this puzzle quality- a couple of bubbled spots where the image raised from the backing and showed on the design but there was nothing that could be done about this. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed this one- it felt good to tackle something slightly different.

And how fierce is the image?! Divine! :) 

Skate

Brand: Re-Marks
Pieces: 250
Size: 27.9cm x 35.6cm
Product Code:  -

Today is the first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere and over the last week or so, we have definitely been feeling it!

The day's have been so cold lately, which is why the above design is so fitting. 

While there is rarely snow in the area that I live, it has felt cold enough that I wouldn't have been surprised if we got a little bit of snowfall! In other parts of Victoria however, like Mt Hotham (a popular ski area), they have already experienced a bit of a fall, so that'll keep a lot of the snowbunnies happy.

I love the above design, although I'm not sure who the illustrator is. It's such a pretty drawing, and the puzzle was a pleasure to do. If anyone knows who drew it, I'd love to find out! Some of the other Re-Marks puzzles I have bought are illustrated by the same person- i just love the style! 

Forest Party

Brand: Re-Marks
Pieces: 250
Size: 27.9cm x 35.6cm
Product Code:  -

I always enjoy trying new puzzle brands- especially when they have interesting designs or are harder to get in Australia (in which case, I buy them online and get them sent to me from overseas)!

While this can sometimes prove expensive, it's something that I like to do occasionally (especially if there is a sale on) and can lead to some very cool purchases. 

Like the above puzzle for example. 

As far as I have been able to tell, Re-Marks is a brand that is virtually impossible to buy in store in Australia. Unless they have a stockist I am unaware of, the only way I have been able to buy any of their puzzles is online from America. 

I purchased the above puzzle (and a few others) last year, and was not disappointed.

They have pretty and/or cute designs, the pieces fit well together and they have an altogether different look to some of the other illustrated imagery I have seen available. I enjoyed doing Forest Party- it was a nice, quick finish and the design was just perfect for what I felt like completing in that moment. 

It's a brand I think I'll definitely be going back to...

Let The Sun Shine In

Brand: Anatolian
Pieces: 500
Size: 33cm x 48cm
Product Code: 3599

You know how sometimes a piece of artwork just draws you in? That's what happened to me with this puzzle design...

I'm not sure why it appealed so much, but when I saw the mixed-media style image, it just drew my attention and I had to purchase the puzzle. It could have been the bright and expressive colours, or maybe it was just the multilayered detail, but I really enjoyed doing this one by Anatolian. 

This was only my second puzzle from this brand but it didn't disappoint. The pieces fit together nicely and the colours were vibrant. Although Anatolian have fewer distributors within Australia, I'm going to have to get some more from them at some stage!

Kuri Kumi: Summertime

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 500
Size: 36cm x 49cm
Product Code:  146871

It's been getting quite dark and chilly in the early mornings, particularly with the onset of winter in the southern hemisphere. So to brighten the mood, I thought a cute puzzle depicting cotton-cloud meadows and a cheerful cyclist would be spot on. 

This design, produced by Santoro for Ravensburger, features a delightful female character and her little rabbit companion as they cycle through an almost cloud-like meadow. With her cheerful basket of flowers, she looks like she is having the time of her life. 

In typical Ravensburger fashion, the pieces fit well together, making this puzzle a pleasure to do. I thought the design may have been a little challenging, given all the different shades of blues and greens, but it was easy enough to differentiate between the hues once you worked out where each particular blue and green in the design was. 
This would make the perfect puzzle for fans of Santoro's designs. 

Kindred Spirits

Brand: Holdson
Pieces: 1000
Size: 49.3cm x 68.8cm
Product Code:  09492

Yesterday was St Patrick's Day- the cultural day of celebration for Ireland's foremost patron saint. 

For some, it is a day like any other, but for others, the celebrations can take on a wild turn. For guests at many Irish establishments, the day was decked out in greenery, Guinness beer, atrocious accents and Irish jigs. For those who had an interest in the day but weren't keen to go overboard,it was enough to wear a dash of green and listen to a tune from a more contemporary Irish band (U2 or The Script, anyone?)

As far as I'm aware, I have no Irish blood within my family, but I was still keen to commemorate the day of the Irish, so I tried to find a puzzle that would be relevant to the day. 
This was harder than I expected. As such, the above puzzle was the best that I could find, and only because there were so many shades of green in it!

This one was a little bit harder than I expected. As I mentioned just before, there were so many shades of green that initially, it was difficult to determine which piece went where. After a while, my eyes adjusted to the different shades and sorting was easier. In fact, it ended up harder to piece together the tree in the end than the green background behind it! 

This was a beautiful puzzle to do. The final image is gorgeous and the detail is magnificent. This puzzle is perfect for dragon aficionados, fantasy lovers and fans of Anne Stokes' artwork.

Buttercup Meadow (Santoro)

Brand: Ravensburger
Pieces: 500
Size: 49cm x 36cm
Product Code:  146864

I'm not sure what the weather's like in your neck of the woods at the moment, but over the last few days, summer has certainly made it's presence felt where I live! We've had several days where the temperature has been over 30 degrees celsius- not something I terribly enjoy, unless there is a pool and cool drinks around to make it bearable! 

Because of the discomfort I've been feeling, I decided to do a puzzle with soft, calming colours (which still holds a summery feel) and couldn't go past the cutely illustrated Buttercup Meadow. Released by Ravensburger and designed by the clever folks at Santoro, this puzzle has a lot of similar colours (in the white and ecru tones of the sheep) which makes it a little bit more challenging than you would expect. There are also varying shades of green and blue throughout the design. 

This image is very cute, of high quality, and is one of a few that Santoro have collaborated with Ravensburger to release. I'll definitely be looking out for any others they may put out.